PETITIONS

The following 12 petitions, lodged with the Clerk by the Senators indicated, were received:

Senator Crichton-Browne, from 22 petitioners praying that the Senate request the Government to reject any proposal to introduce a tax on gold mining or prospecting.

Senator Reid, from 30 petitioners praying that the Senate legislate to introduce a system wherein community work must be undertaken in order to secure unemployment benefits.

Senator Childs, from 13 petitioners praying that there be no introduction of payment for pensioners' pharmaceutical products and that the Australian pharmaceutical industry be reviewed.

Senator Crichton-Browne, from 9 petitioners praying that the Senate request the Government to protect the right of employees to choose a superannuation scheme and to recognise only those schemes which provide genuine superannuation.

Senator Brownhill, from 20 petitioners praying that the Senate request the Government to pass on the full benefit of lower international oil prices to the Australian public.

Senator Brownhill, from 20 petitioners praying that the Senate request the Government to reduce interest rates.

Senator Powell, from 61 petitioners praying that the lease of the Pine Gap Defence Space Research Facility be terminated and that the future use of the facility be subject to public debate and ratification by the Parliament.

Senator Boswell, from 151 petitioners praying that a conscience vote be permitted to all members of Parliament on issues relating to the prevention of the importation and sale of hard-core pornography.

Senator Vigor, from 150 petitioners praying that the Senate support the Australian Capital Territory Smoking and Tobacco Products Advertisements Prohibition Bill 1983 [1985].

Senator Childs, from 41 petitioners praying that the Senate request the Government to act against those doctors and health insurance companies who force individuals into private health funds.

The following petition, not in conformity with the Standing Orders, was, by leave, presented by Senator Walters, and received:

From 14 citizens requesting that the Senate restore to the Census a category for housewives, and that the ""Fair Go For Women'' survey be recognised as a costly exercise of dubious value in determining the real views of Australian women.